If you weren't raised Catholic, but still Christian, how open to Catholicism would you be?

[AlNg]

Would Catholicism be like this for you, too?

If I were Orthodox, it would be difficult for me to convert to Roman Catholicism because of Friedrich’s Documenta ad illustrandum Consilium Vaticanum II 212-289. Synopsis observationum quae a partibus in caput addendumdecreto de Romani Pontificis primatu (infallibilitate) factae fuerunt. The collection of written protests by Catholic bishops against the doctrine of papal infallibility would argue for my not converting to Roman Catholicism. Further, reading Pichler’s Geschichte der kirchlichen Trennungdes Orients und Occidents. 2 Bde München 1868, would convince me that not every Catholic school of theology at that time adhered to the doctrine that the pope has supreme and universal jurisdiction over the whole church.

 

[Raph]

I was raised as a pentecostal from the Assemblies of God.
I was raised to hate the Catholic Church.
In fact, I became agnostic before converting to catholicism because my prejudice against the Church was so strong that when I noticed the inherent contradictions of protestantism, I didn’t even consider researching other Christian religions.

 

[chessnerd321]

Some have a much longer trip to Rome than me, but it was significantly painful/difficult.

Nobody likes being wrong. Imagine being wrong about the most important and fundamental part of your life. While it feels good to learn the truth, it can also be like getting blood draw. Constantly feeling stupid. Constantly learning that Jesus is different than you thought. That you had gravely disobeyed Him your whole life. That you disrespected His mother horribly. That you were going to have to disappoint your whole family and all your church friends. (Not to mention some ignorant cradle Catholics acting like you, a devout Protestant, have never prayed before or don’t love God or something.)

I understand why many don’t convert. It’s really not a good time. But once it’s done you don’t look back. The reward has been far richer than the short time of suffering.

The Lord scattered me in my conceit. But once I became lowly he lifted me up.

 

[ZMystiCat]

I was raised Protestant. The biggest hangup for me was simply the misinformation about Catholicism. Most of what I heard about the Catholic Church while Protestant, while containing some elements of truth, were generally very far from accurately describing Catholicism. It wasn’t so much that I lacked openness to Catholicism itself but what I thought Catholicism was. Even as a Catholic, I probably wouldn’t have converted to a religion that was what I was told Catholicism is.

And in my experience, most Protestants really don’t have serious hangups with the Catholic Church. They might list things that are legitimately part of Catholicism - priestly celibacy, no contraception, etc. - but those tend to be less concerning to them than what they incorrectly think Catholicism is.

 

[LeahPaz]

I wasn’t raised Catholic. I am more comfortable in the familiar Protestant churches. I was comfortable going to a charismatic church that I attended with my husband, but I was disturbed by their prosperity gospel leanings and the focus on material well-being. (probably to do with my reformed presbyterian upbringing)

Honestly, a little more than 4 years ago, when I decided to give my life to God, it seems like I just suffer and have trial after trial along with my husband. But Jesus commands us to give ourselves completely to Him. And whatever suffering happens on this earth, He is more than worth it. In fact, we don’t even deserve Him. Jesus is perfect. He is the truth, the way, and the life. The Prince of Peace. In perfect obedience to the Father, He gave His life to us, suffered humiliation, pain beyond our imaginations… and all to save imperfect and sinful brothers and sisters. To redeem us and reconcile us back to God. The love of God surpasses all understanding.

Sometimes, I would imagine what Jesus did on the cross like an explosion of light, a kind of spiritual bomb, and that light traveled over the centuries, its effects lasting into all of eternity.

Anyway, I never thought I would have any interest in becoming Catholic because I didn’t know anything about it. The reason I began to look into it was so that I could evangelize to Catholics. I didn’t understand why Catholics prayed to Mary and the saints, so I had to do research. In Acts of the Apostles and Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, and perhaps elsewhere, the Bible makes it clear that we need to be able to answer all things, understand the beliefs of others, be able to relate to them and be on their level:

«Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew to win over Jews; to those under the law I became like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win over those under the law. To those outside the law I became like one outside the law—though I am not outside God’s law but within the law of Christ—to win over those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.»
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9:19-23‬ ‭NABRE‬‬

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew to win over Jews; to those under the law I became like one | New American Bible, revis

Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew to win over Jews; to those under the law I became like one

www.bible.com

So anyway, I began to become convinced after looking into the Catholic faith and now want to become Catholic. I would convert right now if I could, but I have to do the RCIA program first. Meanwhile, I have to overcome the strong disapproval of my husband and the rest of my family (those that are Protestant Christians).

Since becoming Christian in the first place, I lost friends, approval of others (even other Christian Protestant family members). Trials…, tribulations… Why stop now? Why stop seeking the truth? The real blessings are the hardships because God uses them to increase your faith, and draw you to Him.

 

[Rob2]

If you weren’t raised Catholic, but still Christian, how open to Catholicism would you be?

I have no idea .

 

[RealisticCatholic]

Interestingly specific.

If I were born Orthodox, hopefully I’d run across Matthew 16:18 and become familiar with Peter’s early association with Rome

But also, were you raised Catholic? I’m not sure how your answer relates to the thread, especially considering you aren’t Catholic now, either.

 

[Dhc8_Type]

As the son of a Lutheran minister and the grandson to two Lutheran ministers being referred to by my wife’s priest as an illegitimate child has permanently turned me off to Catholicism. My wife even admits she only goes to the church she goes to because it would cause gossip if she stopped going.

 

[MT1926]

As the son of a Lutheran minister and the grandson to two Lutheran ministers being referred to by my wife’s priest as an illegitimate child has permanently turned me off to Catholicism.

I’ve read your post like three times and have absolutely no clue how that terminology even applies to you. All I can do is offer my apologies for this priest and ask you to please not judge the rest of us on his actions. I just wish I were present at that moment because I for one would have put him in his place.

My wife even admits she only goes to the church she goes to because it would cause gossip if she stopped going.

I would recommend your wife find another Catholic Church to go to and let everyone close to her know that this priest’s actions are the very reason she is finding another Church.

I’m sorry this priest hurt you the way he did, totally uncalled for in my book.

God Bless

 

[Roguish]

As the son of a Lutheran minister and the grandson to two Lutheran ministers being referred to by my wife’s priest as an illegitimate child has permanently turned me off to Catholicism.

Yet here you are, participating on a Catholic website.

My wife even admits she only goes to the church she goes to because it would cause gossip if she stopped going.

In cross-denominational marriages one or both of the spouses tend to come up with explanations that are supposed to downplay the significance of why they continue to go to their Church, and don’t join their spouse’s. This is supposed to put the other person’s mind at ease: “Oh it means nothing hon, I only go because…” Your wife’s explanation sounds like an instance of that. The truth is more likely that at the bottom of her heart, she’s simply quite Catholic, even if she herself is not particularly conscious of it.

(You probably like me a bit less now. But remember, you joined a Catholic website! ;-))

 

[MT1926]

If I wasn’t raised Catholic but in a Protestant Christian tradition,

This is a very interesting thought experiment.

I was raised Catholic, however I was always a lukewarm Catholic. Sure it was during the 70’s when the Catholic Church didn’t catechize us very well but to be honest I don’t think that would have made a difference because I was a C student in school back then also.

Anyway, my guess would be a would have been a lukewarm protestant as well.

Not to mention, conversion is ultimately based in God’s grace.

Exactly. Just like me being challenged as a Catholic, which was God’s grace, I think I would have needed to be challenged as a protestation as well for God’s grace to take effect in my life.

Now here’s where I truly believe it would have gotten interesting. Once I hit the 11th grade and became more mature, I was no longer that “C student” anymore. Man God infused me with the grace of determination and there was nothing I couldn’t do if my heart was in it. It was like a switch turned on and I was able to just see things and know if they made sense or not. That grace pretty much turned my life around. C’s turned to A’s. 9 years of college for my Doctorate suddenly became 5. Things just became clear.

OK I’m getting to detailed. Anyway my point to the thought experiment is, even if I were raised protestant I truly believe if someone, even a non-Catholic, challenged me on my faith I would have dug just as deep as I did to remain Catholic, and became Catholic. I have said many times on this forum that the reason I remain Catholic is because She is the only institution that can give a reasonable answer when I ask WHY?

Sure many have given some well thought out reason why there isn’t a Papacy or Purgatory or Prayer to Saints or the Real Presence. But to be quite honest once I forget about everything I was taught (remember I was the guy who didn’t pay attention in CCD so it wasn’t that hard ) all of those just make sense to me because of the events that occurred in my life that turned my life around.

So basically my point is even if a non-Catholic challenged what I believed I would have had the drive to prove them wrong and in the end I would have proved myself wrong as well and ended up in the Catholic Church.

Nice thought experiment.

God Bless

 

[Shakuhachi]

Probabaly not. Too many rules that just feed scrupulosity. I’d be more open to Episcopal.

 

[HopkinsReb]

Probabaly not. Too many rules that just feed scrupulosity. I’d be more open to Episcopal.

The problem with the Episcopal church is the opposite extreme: at this point it has all but watered moral teaching down to “be nice to each other.” You can divorce and remarry and you can marry someone of the same sex, the church tries to walk the line of “abortion is bad but it is a woman’s right.” In my last five years or so attending the Episcopal Church, we had a priestess who we were fairly sure was a closet Buddhist. One of her sermons literally consisted of eating a flower then saying “do you only believe because you have seen?” It has become extraordinarily shallow. This is not to suggest that you cannot find individual Episcopal churches that are wonderful communities with excellent priests, but the denomination as a whole is killing itself by how undemanding its teachings are.

I was actually born into the Methodist church (my parents both grew up Methodist, and my paternal grandfather is a retired Methodist preacher in small-town Mississippi). When I was six or so, we left the Methodist Church for the Episcopal Church because of the irreverence that characterized basically every tradition except high Lutheranism, high Anglicanism, and Catholicism. Dad wanted to be able to sit quietly and pray in preparation for the service, and the only church he could find that fit with his Methodist views and gave him that ability was the Episcopal Church (at the time, our Episcopal church in Oxford, MS, was still resisting the growing consensus in favor of homosexuality).

I think we would have looked hard at Catholicism later, once our church embraced homosexuality, except that dad was divorced and re-married. I think by the end of his life in 2015 (right before I turned 24), he was probably closer theologically to the Catholic Church than to any other. Probably a big part of why I’m so open to a lot of Catholic teachings.

tl;dr: there are probably many Protestants who generally agree with a great deal of Church teachings and practices and want to get away from the antinomianism that Protestantism seems to constantly slide into, but who are kept away by one or two deal-breaker issues.

 

[lilypadrees]

My father was raised Catholic but wasn’t serious about it by the time he and my mother married. My mother (now Catholic) was raised in the Protestant churches of her parents So growing up, I was able to experience both Catholic and Protestant teachings.

But to answer your question, had my mother not taken seriously the promise she made to raise any children they had Catholic, I most likely, would have been raised in either the Protestant denominations she grew up in (Methodist and Church Of Christ) or in the denomination I attended the longest (Southern Baptist, the church was a few blocks from our parish).

The people in the Methodist churches I went to liked Catholics. The members of the Church Of Christ churches I attended were very anti-Catholic tho not rabidly so. The members of the SB church I attended were rabidly anti-Catholic. Yet, they were the most expressive and encouraged me to express myself.

Because I attended that church the longest, if I weren’t a member of the other denominations, I would probably share the views that Catholics weren’t Christians and that they worshipped the Virgin Mary, praying to her instead of to God, worshipped statues, etc.

Under those circumstances, I would not be open to becoming Catholic because I would believe, like the rest in that particular church, not the entire SB denomination, that we were the only ones who were going to be in Heaven because that’s what the pastor actually said.

 

[SunshineGrandma]

We have a saying in our house.

“I am not Catholic because of a priest. I will not stop being Catholic because of a priest. I am Catholic because it is the Church Christ himself established”.

I suggest your wife find a new parish.

Prayers for you both. I’m really sorry you have had a negative experience. I’ve had many as well, but I try to keep my eyes fixed on God not on humans.

 

[lagerald24]

Yeah, it’s really unfortunate that so many people leave the Church because of priests.

 

[Shakuhachi]

The problem with the Episcopal church is the opposite extreme: at this point it has all but watered moral teaching down to “be nice to each other.”

If we could all stick with just that, or better “love one another”. We would do well.

 

[anna_marie]

I am a convert. Interesting how you mention how you feel your same-sex attraction would be a deterrent in you joining the faith. I too struggled with same-sex attraction (though I never was exclusively attracted to the same sex), and sexual sin in general, especially in my teens. When I was in high school, my mom and I went to a progressive church and I did not feel at home there, as I felt they watered down the Word of God. I knew I wasn’t happy living a sinful life, and when I started studying Catholicism, I realized why. It was actually partly because of the moral teachings that led me to believe that Catholicism was the ultimate truth. Finally, I was hearing the truth. So, what may have prevented you from joining the Church as a convert in a different life, actually led me to it.

 

[MichaelP3]

I was raised in a non-Catholic Christian Church with fairly good education from my parents but mostly my Grandmother.

Long story short I gave Catholicism a very big thought when I met my then Catholic girlfriend (now wife) and which was the thing that made me start research into it and leading to this very forum. I spent many many hours on it (started to attend Mass, read the Catechism from cover to cover and various other documents, became enail friends with the local CC priest and so forth) and today I can honestly say it made me a way better Christian but still not Catholic. Today I will still read about it and maybe there is some chance but it is way more improbable than when I first started the research.

I have no problem saying I gave it an honest chance, too many things just didn’t add up. And the more you check it out, the more they became.

 

[SunshineGrandma]

What didn’t add up?